Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Not Again!
Ah, just when I thought the sun would be hanging around here for awhile, another typhoon. The second, in fact, in one week. There's something a little depressing about seeing nothing but this image in your future: http://www.weather.com/weather/print/JAXX0067
What is a typhoon exactly? Here's the definition from the National Weather Service:
Hurricane / Typhoon:
A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind (using the U.S. 1-minute average) is 64 kt (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or more. The term hurricane is used for Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones east of the International Dateline to the Greenwich Meridian. The term typhoon is used for Pacific tropical cyclones north of the Equator west of the International Dateline.
Off to work! -K
What is a typhoon exactly? Here's the definition from the National Weather Service:
Hurricane / Typhoon:
A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind (using the U.S. 1-minute average) is 64 kt (74 mph or 119 km/hr) or more. The term hurricane is used for Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones east of the International Dateline to the Greenwich Meridian. The term typhoon is used for Pacific tropical cyclones north of the Equator west of the International Dateline.
Off to work! -K
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Tie Foon
It's typhoon season here in Okinawa and our first typhoon is headed this way. Work ended early and the bases have locked down. Most of the gates are closed, and entry and exit is restricted. (If you live on base, you're stuck there till the storm passes.) There's an exciting, dangerous-weather feeling in the air and if we had the weather channel here, I'm sure everyone would be glued to it. Instead, we tune into our local AFN deejays for our weather news, and request songs like "Rider On the Storm.
The wind is making scary blustery noises outside now. But, am I warm and cozy inside, hunkering down for the storm with my man? Why no! I am here alone, drinking a beer and writing to you all, 'cause Joe got a duty call for work just as I arrived home. Gosh darn it! Actually, we had planned on going out, braving the storm to dine at my favorite local restaurant, "Mintama". It's the first time in three weeks we were able to get a table. Again, my Mintama cravings - dashed.
Just as well, I've started a pretty intense workout program and should be limiting my caloric intake. The program consists of three kickass workouts a week with about 15 other women and two trainers, one of whom's last name is Rambo. They are very good at what they do; I've spent the last week sore as hell. Today we worked out on the beach, in midst of the wind and rain. Ha! Pretty hardcore, no? At the end of the workout, we were rewarded with a gorgeous full arc of a rainbow.
Friday, July 07, 2006
I've discussed before how I love the vending machines in Okinawa -Joe
Keeping current on the Japanese vending machine revolution
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joe D. Haines, Okinawa Marine, 07 July 06
In Japan, vending machines can be found on practically every street corner and often in places without any street corners. According to the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association, there are about 5.5 million vending machines in Japan. About half of these machines dispense soft drinks. But we’re not talking about your standard half-dozen Pepsi or Coca Cola products.
Each Japanese machine contains 30-40 separate products, on average, offering a bewildering array of hot and cold coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit juices, and nutritional supplements in addition to the standard soda pop products. Yes, you read correctly, hot coffee in a can, a truly marvelous invention for caffeine addicts!
And Starbucks has nothing on Japanese canned coffee — there’s espresso, black coffee, coffee with cream and sugar, cappuccino, café-au-lait and even diet coffee. Popular brands include Kilimanjaro, Georgia and my favorite, Dy-do. In addition, there’s no better hand warmer on a cold day than a hot can of coffee.
The different teas in both bottles and cans are simply too numerous to mention, but the Royal Milk Tea is especially flavorful. And wonder of wonders, there are even vending machines that dispense cold beer! What a country! Veteran humorist Dave Barry wrote in praise of this Japanese innovation. According to Dave’s exhaustive research, Suntory Beer was the superior offering, partly because he liked its slogan, “Inexplicably Delicious.” My personal favorite is that unpretentious Okinawan brew, Orion Beer, known simply as, “The Beer of Beers.”
But before American teenaged boys begin saving money for a flight to Japan, the old machines that sell alcohol are being replaced with models that check a customer’s age by scanning IDs. In 2008, cigarette vending machines will likewise be equipped with an age verification data card reader.
A Tokyo ocean ferry company has a vending machine that routinely sells out its 120 servings of frozen sushi topped with deep-water shrimp, tuna and scallops for ¥500 a serving. A special oven that thaws the frozen meal heats the rice and vinegar while the fish topping remains cold. Some critics of vending machines object that it promotes a culture of disposability. But in Japan, new vending machines often have a humanitarian side. Beginning in 2003, Coca Cola of Japan installed machines that can be remotely controlled to provide free drinks to disaster victims. The possibilities for vending machine products are limited only by the Japanese imagination. There are machines that dispense anything from batteries to underwear. The underwear idea undoubtedly came from those mothers who warned their children about turning up in the emergency room with disreputable undergarments. Fuji Electric Retail System has developed a makeup vending machine that not only talks to customers, but has a camera to help girls make their selection.
The machine then provides the image of the customer’s face showing how she’d look with the new makeup job. If makeup machines ever make it to America, teenaged girls will be responsible for the next billion dollar industry.
Haines is a family practice physician at Lester Family Medicine Clinic.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joe D. Haines, Okinawa Marine, 07 July 06
In Japan, vending machines can be found on practically every street corner and often in places without any street corners. According to the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association, there are about 5.5 million vending machines in Japan. About half of these machines dispense soft drinks. But we’re not talking about your standard half-dozen Pepsi or Coca Cola products.
Each Japanese machine contains 30-40 separate products, on average, offering a bewildering array of hot and cold coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit juices, and nutritional supplements in addition to the standard soda pop products. Yes, you read correctly, hot coffee in a can, a truly marvelous invention for caffeine addicts!
And Starbucks has nothing on Japanese canned coffee — there’s espresso, black coffee, coffee with cream and sugar, cappuccino, café-au-lait and even diet coffee. Popular brands include Kilimanjaro, Georgia and my favorite, Dy-do. In addition, there’s no better hand warmer on a cold day than a hot can of coffee.
The different teas in both bottles and cans are simply too numerous to mention, but the Royal Milk Tea is especially flavorful. And wonder of wonders, there are even vending machines that dispense cold beer! What a country! Veteran humorist Dave Barry wrote in praise of this Japanese innovation. According to Dave’s exhaustive research, Suntory Beer was the superior offering, partly because he liked its slogan, “Inexplicably Delicious.” My personal favorite is that unpretentious Okinawan brew, Orion Beer, known simply as, “The Beer of Beers.”
But before American teenaged boys begin saving money for a flight to Japan, the old machines that sell alcohol are being replaced with models that check a customer’s age by scanning IDs. In 2008, cigarette vending machines will likewise be equipped with an age verification data card reader.
A Tokyo ocean ferry company has a vending machine that routinely sells out its 120 servings of frozen sushi topped with deep-water shrimp, tuna and scallops for ¥500 a serving. A special oven that thaws the frozen meal heats the rice and vinegar while the fish topping remains cold. Some critics of vending machines object that it promotes a culture of disposability. But in Japan, new vending machines often have a humanitarian side. Beginning in 2003, Coca Cola of Japan installed machines that can be remotely controlled to provide free drinks to disaster victims. The possibilities for vending machine products are limited only by the Japanese imagination. There are machines that dispense anything from batteries to underwear. The underwear idea undoubtedly came from those mothers who warned their children about turning up in the emergency room with disreputable undergarments. Fuji Electric Retail System has developed a makeup vending machine that not only talks to customers, but has a camera to help girls make their selection.
The machine then provides the image of the customer’s face showing how she’d look with the new makeup job. If makeup machines ever make it to America, teenaged girls will be responsible for the next billion dollar industry.
Haines is a family practice physician at Lester Family Medicine Clinic.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Snorkeling Spots
This is a spot near our house that we go snorkeling. It's only 5 minutes from the house, but there's not a lot of sea life. But...
We found this new spot which is about 10 minutes from our house. Here's Kelly being blinded by the bright sun.
Here's another view. This place rocks. Lots of fish and coral. We've been getting up early Saturday mornings and going snorkeling. What a great way to start the day. I've got a hand spear that I've been attempting to catch dinner. No luck yet. The fish fear me!
-Joe
